News

CLEBURNE, Texas – The Cleburne Railroaders and the American Association announced Thursday that the club has sold the contract of Cortland Cox to the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball.

Pitching for the Railroaders in the inaugural season last year, Cox, 23, quickly developed into one of the most dangerous relievers in the league, finishing with a 2.96 ERA over 37 appearances with 66 strikeouts in 51.2 innings.

Cox gave up just two earned runs in his first 12.1 innings of 2017, and finished by allowing five runs over his last 26.1 frames of the season.

Cox also earned American Association Pitcher of the Week for the first week of August, posting 7.2 scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts and no walks over two relief appearances. In an appearance against Kansas City, Cox retired 15 of the 16 batters he faced, recording 10 strikeouts.

Cox, a 32nd-round pick of the Cleveland Indians in the 2013 MLB Draft, played collegiately at Riverside Community College in Riverside, CA. He reached Double-A Akron (CLE) in 2016, and has a career 3.49 ERA in 68 affiliated minor-league appearances.

Cox now joins Shawn Zarraga on the list of Railroaders alumni who are currently in Major League organizations. Zarraga will feature in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization in 2018.

The Railroaders begin the 2018 season on May 18 against the two-time defending champion Winnipeg Goldeyes. Full-season, half-season and 10-game tickets are now on sale.